Lubricating means for bearings and spindles or shafts



Sept. 20, 1.949. E. BUGATTI 2,482,536

LUBRICATING MEANS FOR BEARINGS f AND SPINDLEs 0R SHA1-Ts Filed Sept. 11,194:5l 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 (u N f k z\ Q E, lY

M vll -lr--Ir A sept. 20,1949.

y LUBRICATING E. BUGATTI MEANS FOR BEARINGS AND SPINDLES OR SHAFTS 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed. Sept. 1l, 1945' Sept. 20, 1.949. EfBuGATTl2,482,536

LUBRICATING MEANS FOR BEARINGS AND SPINDLES OR SHAFTS Filed Sept. 11,1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 20, 1949 UNlTE'DifA- STTES i PATENTVOFFICE h sPiN-Dncs on snAFTs v Y Ettore Bugatti, Paris, FranceApplication September 11, 1945, Serial No. 615,637 'Y In FranceSeptember12, 1944 This invention relates to a bearing orsupport combined with ashaft or spindle rotating at 'a high speed and particularly with ashaftr vpin intended to be held at -a comparatively great distance fromthe driving shaft. It'relates mainly to machines such as grindingmachines,milling machines, etc., but in its application it is notconfined to machine tools;

An essential feature of the invention lies in the fact that the bearing,presenting a smooth boring is provided with a lubricating pump entirelyhoused in its mass and actuated by an endless screw provided on theshaft towards the middle of the bearing, while a second screw near thefirst but distinct therefrom` and of f'opposite pitch, serves jointlywith the rst tov drive towardsthe ends of the bearing the lubricantsupplied by the pump in the interval which separates' them.'v

The invention therefore refers essentially and more generally tothecombination of ra lubrication pump housed Within a shaft bearing withcontrolling means provided on said shaft, preferably within the limitsactually drawn by the bearing, so as to form an autonomous lubricatingunit. o

The lubricant is preferably placed in a tank provided in the body of thebearing whilst ducts bring back to saidl tank the lubricant which hasbeen forced by the screws up to the vicinity of the ends of the bearing.v

The bearing or support may in particular have a cylindrical externalsurface and an axis strictly concentric with the axis of the shaft, itscomponent elements particularly those of the lubricating device havingbeen designed so as' not to have any projection. y Y Y Y Y The abovefeatures, autonomous lubrication and a strictly cylindrical shape,afford great facil ities either for the study and construction of newmachines or for adaptation to existing machines it is intended totransform with a view to modernizing them.

The advantages offered by the invention are as follows:

(1) The method of lubrication above described affords the maximum ofefciency for shafts rotating at a high speed coupled with heavymem-vbers as it happens in the case of certain machine tools such as grindingmachines. This method of lubricating is very favourable for theformation of a film of oil between the spindle and the bearing, themaintenance Vof said lm being 4assured by the pressure transmittedthrough thevpump. Furthermore the twoscrews with inverted pitch cutinthe spindle ensurea correct distribution of s' claims. (c1. 30s- 122)a horizontal plane V-V inFigure 3.

, 2 y lubricant in the two collars of the on each side of the screwzone'g (2) The strictly cylindrical shape of the'fouter casing of thebearing lends itself with great facil-V ity to all kinds of mounting andgreatly simplies the operations for checking the position of saidbearing on the machine. It is only necessary to provide in said machine,either a semi-cylindrical cradle withY securing straps, or a couple ofsupports bored to the diameter of the bearing. The machining of saidvcradleor said supports isvdone once for all and the mounting of thebearing necessitates no adjustment. i

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawinggiven by way of non-limitative example shows clearly how the inventioncan be performed whilst the features shownL in the text as well as inthe drawing naturally form part of said invention.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the axis of a bearingconstructed according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a partial section along II-II' in Figure'l'. J l: Figure 3is a transverse section on a larger scale through the axis of the oilpump,namelyalong III-Ill in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse` section on a larger scale along IV--IV inFigure 2.

Figure 5 shows a section of the oil pump bearing located along Figure 6is a section along VI--VI in Figure 5.` The spindle I rotates in abearing 2 the boring 3 of which is perfectly smooth. It is axially heldby its flange 4 which is in friction against one of the faces 5 of thebearing 2 and by the flange 6 of a driving plate 1 in contact with theother face 8 of the bearing 2. Y n

The spindle I is driven from the plate I through a cotter 9 and isset inthe part Ill of the spindle l on which thefplate 'I is mounted. Saidplate 'I' may be replaced by any other transmission device such as apulley, a universal joint, gears, etc.

The end of the spindle I is shaped so as to take up-either a grindingwheel, the hub of which is shown at I'I or a tool-holder, a cutter oranyl other machining apparatus.

` In its central part,the spindle I comprises a right hand threadedscrew lor worm I2 andanother screw or worm I3 also threaded butlefthand. The screw I3 engages a worm-wheel I4 shown in Figure 2; Thetwo screws I2 and I3 are separated by a cylindrical part I5, thediameter of which is less than the bottom or root diameter of the wormsI2 and I3. Between the worm 3 I2 and the collar I6 of the spindle I aswell as between the worm I3 and the collar I8 there are also twocylindrical parts I1 and I9 similar to I5. These recesses I1 and I9 arenot absolutely necessary; their presence is justified by machiningfacilities for worms I2 and I3.

The worm-wheel I4 (Figure 3) is cottered at on thefshaft 2'I olf-'theoil pump. The body 22 of said pump is fitted in a boring 2'3 provided inthe bearing 2 and in open communication with the boring 3 of saidbearing through a window 23 (Fig. 3). A packing -14 ensures tightnessaround the body 22. Said body 22 and the-cover 28 guide the shaft 2| inits rotation, as well as the journals 24 and 25 of a driver pinionlZ'engages a driving pinion Zl'vfast with the shaft 2l. The cover 28assembled with "the body '22- by YAa set of screws 29 (Figure 5) isitself fixed to the bearing I by other screws 3D (Figure 4).

The housing 3I for the body of the pump 22 in the fthi'cknessof'thefbear-ing -2 rcomprises fa dressed face 32 which supports .thecover 28, the vouter 'contour 33 -of which .protrudes for thatpfurposarelatively vto 'the rcontour :34 4of the body 22( Fig- :ure 5)Thedirection of rotation of the :pinions 26 and 21 driven by theworm-wheel VI4 depends upon the direction of the thread ofthe worm i3.lIn the example chosen, :the .rotation takes .place in the direction ofthe Varrows in Figures l, 2, 3 :and whereby the 'position of the suctionland delivery openingsare'determned.

The suction opening 350i `the purnpcommunipates with an 'oil 'tank 36iprovided in 'the lower par-tof the bearing '2,ithrough 'a'c'hannel 31bored `in th'e cover `28 `and through ia y'hole 38 perforated opposite2in th'e'wall 3910i the housing 3l .of the bearing l2 (Figuret)."Ihe'deliveryopening 48'is connected to a well 4I through a channel 42similar to fthe `channel '31. Stoppers 43 fand 44 are positioned Ain thecover 28 after holes forming the channels 31 and 42 have been bored.

A well 4I (Figure :4) :rises preferably up 'to the horizontal axis ofthe bearing 2 where it 4meets a channel 45. The `latter comprises a part46 calibrated witha smaller diameter than the diameter of so as toregulate the delivery of oil. On the other side of the well 4I, thechannel '45 is bored in order to serve as a lodgement toa ball 41 randto a spring 48 weighted-so -as to balance the pressure 'of the 'oil'through the opening l49 of the channel 45. When said vpressure reaches asufli'cient value to compress the spring 48, the ball 41 leaves its seatand the oil flows through the opening 49 and a channel 58 which leadsinto a Vrecess 5I in constant communication with the tank 36. Y

A stopper 52 screwed in a threaded part 53 of the bearing 2 makes itpossible to adjust the tension of the spring 48, to replace said springcase of rupture, -or also to ascertain whether the nozzle 46 has notbeen accidentally obstructed.

The filling of the tan-k 36 up to a certain level 54 .is eifeotedthrough a threaded aperture 55 arranged as high -as possible and incommunication through a passage 56 with the tank 36. The

stopper 51 provided, for instance, with a hexagonal cavity 58 and apacking V59 completes the filling device.

The oil after flowing into the space 60 comprised `between thecylindrical part `I5 of the spindle I and the boring 3 of the bearing 2,is driven towards -the collars I6 and I8 of the spindle =I by means -ofthe wormsor screws I2 and I3,

the thread direction of which has been suitably chosen for the directionof rotation of the spindle I and, with the help of the pressure itreaches the faces 5 and 8 of the bearing 2. On said faces 5 and 8 arexed covers in two pieces 6Ia and 6Ib for one, and 62a and B2b for theother. Said covers are fixed to the bearing 2 by screws 64 and theyinclude the devices adapted to secure tightness if'arfd avoid theintrusin '"of dust into the bearing-2 "asjfr instaric'e, felts 65.

A deiiector 66 which is integral with the spindle I revolves in a pan 61provided in the cover 6Ia, BfI-hfandfcolleotsthe projections of oilescaping from thebearingZ and falling back into a depression 68 at thebase of the pan 61. A channel 69`b'ordin the thickness of the bearing 2establishes communication between the depression 68 and-the ytank'36. 'Achannel 10 arranged in a similanmanner ensures the return of the oilcollected-'by the depression 1I in the pan 12 of the cover 62a, 62h inwhich cover a deflector 13 which lis integralwith the driving :plate 1,Y'revolves. f

:It iis -obvious rthat modifications rmay be fintr'oduced lin lthedevice :above 1slescrfbed without therebydepartiig fromrthe'fscdpe'f thepresent Minvention.

What Ifcl'aimlis:

1. The combination of lafsliaf-t f'including a'nin- -tegral gear, therouter iperipheryff which is flush with 4the-per-ipher-y*of 'theremainder of isaidshaft, a *bearing `Afor said 5shaft "having a smoothbore inoperative engagement "Withfsaid shaft, extend'- -ing along 5saidshaft reither A'side of Asaid gear, the VAbearing dui-ther xincluding :a`recess which opens in 'saidibore inclose:proXimity'to-s'aid gearVarid--afseparate Elubricantpass'ag'e"from said :recess to Asaid bore;and means located in 'said Vrecess and supported Lfrom =tlri`e bearingforforcing lubricant into said lpassage, the means including a gearadapted andarrangedto'mesh withthe firstnamed-gear.

A-2. The-combination-of-a shaftfhaving a peripheral fg-roove; #a :pairkof spaced-apart, "oppositely pitched, 'spiral ribs jlocated `in 'said:groove "with their outer periphery flush with the cylinder com'- prisedby thergeneral peripheryiof said shaft, 'said ribs rbeingffast with saidShaft; and a bearing for said (shaft, Venclosing rthe same vrandextending fon either `side of the groove to moin-ts Aremote "therefrom,said bearing having 'a rpressure lubricant supplyduct opening into-thebore of said lbearing opposite said'groove. l

v3. The combination -ofia shaft havinga pair'of spaced-apart,-oppositely threaded worms formed thereon with their youter peripheryflush with Ithe general outer periphery of the shaft, anda peripheralgroove between said wor-ms; `'a lubricant pump ihaving a wor-m=wh'eelvas "a "control member therefor, said worm-wheel being adapted and ai"-ranged -to -mesh with one 'of Asaid worms on the shaft; and rigid meansproviding a continuous bearing for said shaft, in operative Contacttherewith along the Aouter periphery of -said worms and a substantialportion of the nongrooved sections of vsaid shaft, for confining fan'dsupporting said lubricant pump, `said -fiealns incliiding a lubricantpassage from said pumpto the space between said groove and @said means.

4. A self-contained, shaft bearing and lubricating unit which -comprisesthe -combination of av tubular rigid member with substantially continu'-ous, smooth -iine'r and o'uter "cylindrical periph; eries, said memberh'avi'ng in its 'annular wall a longitudinal inne channel cci-elitensivethere'- wi-th, .an Aihr-Ici"'clilzaimbcr Jlocated substantially mid'-way between the ends of said member, adapted and arranged to communicatewith said channel, and an inner lubricant delivering duct from saidchamber to the inner periphery of said member substantially midwaybetween the ends thereof; and a lubricant pump supported and confined insaid chamber, adapted to force lubricant from said channel into saidduct.

5. The combination of a shaft having a pair of proximate butspaced-apart, oppositely pitched Archimedean screws cut in its peripherywith an intervening peripheral groove; and an enclosing bearing for saidshaft extending over a considerable length on either side of the pair ofscrews in operative engagement with said shaft, said bearing having apressure lubricant delivery port which opens in the bore thereofopposite said groove.

6. The combination of a rotary shaft including a smooth section followedwith a spirally grooved section of minor length; a lubricant pump inclose proximity to said shaft, including a control member for operatingsaid pump in operating engagement with the grooved section of the shaftso as to be driven thereby as the shaft revolves; and means co-extensivewith both sections ofY the shaft, in ring formation and contactingrelationship therewith, providing a bearing for said shaft and a housingfor said pump, including a lubricant delivery duct from the output sideof the pump to a point opposite the shaft on the side of the groovedsection which is away from the smooth section.

7 The combination of a bearing having a tubular rigid body with smoothinner and outer periphery, a recess extending inwardly from the outerperiphery to the inner periphery of said body so that the recesscommunicates with the bore of the bearing through a window, and aseparate duct from said recess to the inner periphery of said body; ashaft revolubly borne in said tubular body; a lubricant pump having alubricant inlet, fitted in said body recess, having an end rotarycontrol member and so arranged that said control member is located insaid recess opposite said window; means on said shaft operativelyengaging said control member through said Window for driving the same;and means removably attached to said body for supporting said pump insaid body and sealing said recess, saidmeans having a duct thereinadapted and arranged to place the delivery side of the pump in opencommunication with the first-named duct.

8. The combination of claim 7, the tubular bearing body furtherincluding an inner lubricant reservoir in communication with saidlubricant inlet of said pump and a lubricant return duct from saidfirst-named duct to said reservoir, and a spring-urged check valve insaid return duct.

ETTORE BUGA'I'I'I.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis partent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 824,187 Lowe June 26, 19061,508,085 Cooper Sept. 9, 1924 1,745,871 Spillmarm Feb. 4, 19301,934,278 Raule Nov. 7, 1933 2,249,843 Marslancl July 22, 1941

